Utah will use firing squad to execute killer

[The Straight Story]

Utah will use firing squad to execute killer
Inmate chooses bullets instead of lethal injection

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah is scheduled to execute a convicted killer by firing squad on June 18, renewing a debate over what critics see as an antiquated, Old West-style of justice.

State court Judge Robin Reese signed the warrant this morning for Ronnie Lee Gardner, who killed a man during a failed escape 25 years ago.

Under state law, Gardner, 49, was given the choice of being killed by lethal injection or shot by a five-man team of executioners firing from a set of matched rifles, a rarely used relic that harkens back to Utah's territorial history.

After Reese said Gardner's avenues for appeal are exhausted and that he would sign the warrant, Gardner told the judge: "I would like the firing squad, please."

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2010/04/23/utah-firing-squad.html?sid=101

[CatWoman]

1. isn't this against the law?

:shrug:

[Codeine]

4. His choice.

I imagine it will be faster and less painful than the lethal injection, actually. I'm anti-death penalty, but quibbling over technique seems silly.

[Jennicut]

8. It probably would be faster, if they shoot you directly in the heart.

If not...

[Codeine]

12. I doubt there's a lack of accurate riflemen in Utah.

The executioners aren't that far away and five rounds are being fired simultaneously -- I imagine it will be over quickly.

[Jennicut]

14. That is true, it can be very controlled.

Personally, I used to be for the death penalty but now just find any method used to be creepy and barbaric.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Geeze, let's go back in time? We have become a barbaric.

:crazy:

[NeedleCast]

5. The prisoner requested it

How is that barbaric?

I am anti-death penalty, but it seems the prisoner picked this.

[maxsolomon]

7. what does the type of barbarism matter?

a firing squad isn't an injection, but neither is it stoning.

all executions are barbarism.

[Dreamer Tatum]

3. Utah is pro-choice, then

nice.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. Utah used to ONLY do firing squad...

Because the LDS Church once viewed (not sure if they still do) that anyone who committed murder was so sinful that the only way they could achieve godhood in the afterlife is if their blood were shed upon the ground in a sacrifice.

[krispos42]

9. Well it will likely be fast and painless.

Awfully messy, though.

[mitchum]

10. Death by firing squad serves as "blood atonement" for Mormon crazies

[ljm2002]

11. When I was growing up in Montana...

...they used to allow inmates who were to be executed to choose the method between hanging and firing squad. So it's kind of a Western States thing... not that I have any idea what Montana does these days.

I always thought that I'd choose the firing squad over hanging any day of the week. On the other hand, I would not choose it over lethal injection.

Hopefully I will never have to make that decision! :-)

[sui generis]

13. yeah - Kansas or Missourri one of those is still a hangin' state.

No doubt I should wiki before I post - I'm sure the list is out there somewhere.

[Thothmes]

16. Washington State also uses hanging.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

15. That's how they executed Gary Gilmore.

It was reported when asked if he had any last words he said 'let's do it'